SANTA’S VERY OWN WISH FOR WEXFORD CHILDREN
“MY FAVOURITE COUNTY IS WEXFORD” SAID SANTA
ROBIN, the smallest, youngest elf in the North Pole sat spinning a globe his older brother Timmy made in Santa’s workshop.
Closing his eyes, he placed his finger tentatively on the spinning, high tech orb, stopping it with a jolt. A bubble – which had formed electronically on the magic globe – revealed a teddy bear shaped country called Ireland.
In keeping with tradition, each year an elf gets to pick the first place in the world Santa is to visit and to his delight Robin was chosen for the task.
Overlooked for so long in the busy workshop where toys of all shapes and sizes are made, Robin’s name was plucked by Mrs Claus from a humongous sweet bowl on December 1, the day the giant 50 ft advent calendar for 2017 was unveiled in Snow Hall, where all elf celebrations are held.
Billy Sillitoe, the mean elf in the workshop who made fun of him because of his small size, was so jealous that he jumped around on the spot in a fit of rage.
Robin, who was only 1002 years old, (quite young for an elf ), was sitting outside Santa’s room on a giant green marshmallow-like chair.
‘Come in,’ said a warm friendly voice.
‘Robin, congratulations. Are you ready to join me, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph on the greatest adventure.’
‘Why yes Santa, where are we going?’
‘Well, you tell me.’
‘Ireland!’
‘Oh, that’s my favourite country. Your grandmother was from there. The children are so good in that wee country. We never use much coal in Ireland.
‘My favourite county is Wexford. Mmmmm, the strawberries, the jam, the marshmallows and chocolates. Mrs Claus doesn’t like me going there because sometimes I come back 2 stone heavier.’
With that Robin was lifted into the sleigh – which groaned under the weight of millions of neatly wrapped presents – and in the blink of an elf eye, was off over the clouds.
Santa was looking forward to the trip around the world like never before. Elf trade union issues and gender relations problems – after it emerged that contrary to popular myth, all his reindeer were female and not male - had made the run-up to Christmas a very stressful time indeed.
The fact that the skies would be clear of Ryaniar planes due to a planned strike meant one less thing to worry about as the reindeer ran on the funway out of the North Pole, taking off over the trees.
‘Wow!’ Robin said, as he looked back on the North Pole and Santa’s village, sparkling in crystalline light below. A few seconds later, the super power sleigh was over Gorey. By this time Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph were exhausted, so Santa put the sleigh on automatic.
Ever curious, Robin enquired how the sleigh could fly without reindeers pulling it.
‘A child’s excitement and love makes anything possible. This is the real magic and that is how we are here tonight,’ Santa, a brilliant magician in his own right, said with a broad smile.
‘Do you know what’s on my list for Christmas?’ he asked Robin. ‘I don’t. I didn’t even think you’d write a list being an adult and all.
‘Well, adults have wishes too. My wish, if you really want to know, is for children to spend a little time on Christmas. The greatest gift you and the children of Wexford can give someone this Christmas is your time. Because when you give time, you are giving a portion of your life that you will never get back.’
Robin saw evidence of magic in homes all over County Wexford. In the time and effort adults, (who were really just big children with too many jobs’ lists), put into making their house cosy and beautiful for this special time of year.
The decorations, some used for decades from when they were children, on the trees, the lights on the roofs. ‘I thought only we felt the power of Christmas. Are these houses powered by Christmas too?’
Santa laughed a hearty laugh, his breath visible in the midnight sky. ‘These homes are powered by love, which is what Christmas is all about. Taking time to say hello to your neighbour elf. Making friends. Forgetting about little arguments and rows. This is a time to celebrate being alive and all that is good Robin and you and all elves and children must enjoy this precious time. You’ve all been so good this year.’
The Elf on the Shelf team had kept Santa informed of this and about how good the children there were so Santa was thrilled to land on the first roof top near Tara Hill where he disappared down a chimney, placing presents under a beautifully decorated tree.
He stopped in thousands of houses from Bunclody to Enniscorthy, where he admired the castle, and on to Wexford town, where the reindeer stopped at the women’s and children’s refuge – Santa peeping in on the sleeping children, before delivering their gifts.
The next stop off was at Johnstown Castle for a drink of water, then on to Kilmore Quay, down along the coast to Duncannon and all the houses in between, before their final destination, New Ross, where Santa, enjoyed a one second break.
Robin couldn’t believe how beautiful the county was. Snow, which had blanketed the fields, rooftops and cars on Christmas Eve, glistened and sparkled. Robin felt so big and tall in the sleigh, but not big enough to contain all the feelings of excitement he had, his hair blowing in the cool North wind under billions of stars, as they set off across the world delivering presents to lucky boys and girls.